New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-20

ture meant.
Then tnero WAS a sulIen lui. and Tow and sup
| pressed gr0ans and cries came from the miserable
| wretches. hob.
Through tho mist md smoke could at intervals
distinguish tho writhiDg figures beneath.
Then the horror of the hideous sight, the awful
sounds, the madness OF the scene came upon mo
also in deepest intensity. and In my lofty gallery
| fell crouchng in the remOtest corner, groaning
heavily with those beneath In the agony OF their
snierings. and from my own terrOr.strIcken sym
patay But far away, hidden IN the dimness of the
| great height, ana by the wreatblng smoke, meme
saw. none needed me.
Again was the voice of tho unseen speaker heard.
| u hese are the torments we testify can be en-
dured for The Cause" he sad in deep hollow tones
that showed how strongly mental resolve was
struggling to subdue bodily anguish. None have
faItered none have shrunk afrignted from the
stern ordeal.
But woe to that man or woman who does
tract. who hesitates when the supreme moment
arrivesl We swear. and let each man and each
| woman approach and swear. that whatever be
imposed upon them, that duty they will fulfil, be
1t the sacrifice OF husband. wife. child, parent or
of all that life holds dear. .
q Woe to tie degraded wretch who fails to obey,w
| "We swear that not one torture that can be
inf cted human frame shall he OF she be spared"
Then all drew near and each resolutely took an
oath so awful in its words and character that L
Amidst all my terror, amidst all the agonies Of
nv mind, murmured prayer rose to my lips that
Almighty Mercy might not record might blot out
tho impous threats, the impious desires.
Again there was silence for few moments ana
then again the same voice spoke.
at were best that the bodies of the two women
should be disposed of as secretly as possible"
As he spoke there was sound Of steps as OF per-
sons moving, then q door closed, and once moro
silence fell upon the assembly.
know not how long it lasted 1t seemed an age
| II was probably minutes, when those no bad de-
parted reappeared, bearing between them lifeless
| fgnre.
can it indeed be you cruelty done to death on.
my friend my old once loving friend Is 1t possible
that you have thus violated every law of hospital
ity. that yc,m nave thus requited years OF loving
friendshIpT
But now many persons. could not distinguish
how many. rushed into the hall in headlong haste.
hs as o The
dows were open. she must have fled by the moat:
There must be traitors amongst us. And mu.tered
of suppressed fury ro Ell through the vast hall
A seconds pause, q seconds indeclsiOn. then the
stern and cruel voice of the President again was
heard.
They are all around They must already have
found their prey. But" and here the cruel voice
and more savagely than before " he who quails at
the sacrifice OF wife. or child, or OF all he holds
most dear, is unworthy to be the leader OF noble
and devoted hearts
"Bring hither Nadine FedorOvna PeretekoH. !.
her husband devote my wife to the torture that her
weakness and her cOwardice have merited."
miserable trembling woman was pushed, or
dragged, before the hdeOus altar BY the light
that came from its qnvering flames could see the
convulsed, agonized features the deathy pall0r Oh
my most unhappy friend
She fell on her knees.
not kill her-I loved her so; She has been SO good
to me. She loved me- All none have ever loved
me as she has done. She asked of me foad aud
shelter. No. | could not kill her. Oil Xavier,
Xavier have mercy have gwen you all~alL
For the love of the Blessed Virgin. spare me this
once! Bv the memory of our dead children spar,
mel Xiii me ii you will. but torture me no more
see how I have suffered. see how have suffered !
S the grS SaH srsG Sesr XIII
me- for the love Of our Mercirul Lady,
The wretched creature burst into bitter tears and
| | 4 LII tna han NV ma
Scared and tortured flesh, tho twisted aud dis
torted limbs. the hideons tokens OF mans sinful
lust for power, of his wicked crushing OF wrctched
instruments for the sake OF carrying OUT his own
Without replying. he who stood before the altar
the man who in the world was the fascinating.
accomplished Count Xavier Peretekoh, tho bus
band of the beautiful and wealthy Countess
Nariscka now the avowed leader Of band OF
traitorous sssassins and selftorturers. seized q
large and heavy whip.
| heard tie rush the thongs made as they we're
whired through the air. heard the horrid thud
as they fell upon the barred shoulders Of the victim
r shTil scream broke the silence. and again the
could endure no moro-T could forbear no
longer.
Nadine Nadlner' shriekod. . am here ]
I am here. You shall not suffer for me. Let them
kill me IL they will God will avenge me. God
will punish their wicked cruelty but you shall
Again | shrekcd loudly In the exquisite agony
of my mind. Then mist came over me and fell
TO the ground but hardly had the words left my
Inns when there was n sudden rush from below.
3 Was surrounded by horde of blackened and half
; naNed sayages They seized me, they dragged me
4 down They pulled me to the SPOT whore my un-
g happy friend. dabbled with blood, lay before the
{ glowing furnace. A cruel smile curled round the
3 Ups OF one who in days gone ~ had never openeu
them to me. save to utter fattering speeches or
: Yon dare be present at a meeting Of the Secret
Society You dare pretend TO save one Justly con-
| drmned Know that you are yourself doomed. ana
quick AS lightning a long. sharp knife gittered iii
his appraised hand.
| The steel Just grazed my forehead as I was
4 dashed to the ground dragging another victim
l uDon me in my fall. deep hollow Rroan n
hdeOus stream OF blood. and then, as II the demons
Of this awful Pandemonun had been let loose
], upon us Wells aud curses rent the air. The doors
we're da he'd inward sudden rush OF men poured
! into the ball Blows aud shrleks resounded on
| every side; strong men were hurled backward
and cast to the ground by the powerful force
: Irought against them Women tonight like demons.
4 ut were remorselessy shot cut down by che
5 sword But few minutes elapsed ore the whoie
ana was overpowereu no, ina" es' I anu INV
servant but now arrayed IN gorgeous uniform. the
? officer in command OF the attacking party. he
keen searching eyes seemed yet more keen, as they
looked resolutely and hercey around. The hrmiy
J closed mouth, the ssqnare strong Jaw now seen
9 made tie features | had once thought vacant,
. appear gtern. severe and impacsbe ,
Q :" carriage awaits you Madame" be said, as ne
9 raised me from the ground, and an escort
], through the forest will insure your safety. lou
will pardon the deception | was forced to practise
Q in order'to nnearth this nest or assasslns ana
traitors. without your unconscious aia We coala
duty com PEELED me. though most reluctantly, to
4 deceive You by taking the place OF yonr servant
and SO selling You into the power OF my Jraend
cruel laugh" was enabled to ia Ike these wreohes
+ red-handed. and insure the fate they have 30
l long richly deserved
While he spoke the prisoners were being removed.
= and at this moment Count Xavier Peretekof,
heavily manacled. blackened with smoke and stu
bleeding from the many wounds he had received
. during tho desperate struggle. was being forced
from the room.
He turned ere his captors could drag him through
the doorway and raising his shackled hands,
| shook them at his wife and myself with an ex-
! preston of savage hate that will remain with me
TO my dying day. . :,
: Fool and coward" he said, may you die the
death you well merit-and II curse myself LOT
b having been such miserable fool as TO trust